BBC Home


Accessibility help
Text only
BBC Homepage
BBC Music

Sold on Song. Classic songs, covers, songwriting and more.

Listen Live.

 Full Schedule
-

Radio 2
Sold on Song
What's On
Search For A Songwriter
Songs A-Z
Artists A-Z
Songwriting Guides
Genres
Glossary
Newsletter

Print this page Print Version Finding a producer

When you've written a number of songs and maybe played them live for a while it becomes inevitable that you will want to record your music. Gone are the days when a group of musicians sat in a studio and played while someone pressed the record button.

Tracks are now recorded separately and mixed together. Now producing is complex and highly technical with 24 to 48 track studios, sampling , loops, harmonies, string arrangements, squeaky toys, you name it. It's a long process even if you are going for that 'we're just a bunch of musicians who happened to be playing live' sound.

It's true a producer can seriously enhance your songs and they can also seriously harm them. However no one recommends you rely on production to save a poor song. As Graham Gouldman remarked, 'you can't hum a production'. It's the song - the melody , the chorus , the hook - that will grab the listeners and stay in their head, production should enhance this but can't replace it.

Producers are freelance and can have their own agents who negotiate fees and deals with record companies. Producers command large fees and are usually hired by the record company to work with an artist.

No one recommends you rely on production to save a poor song.

But producers will work with unsigned artists if they think they are going to be successful later on. In this case the producer will take no fee or a reduced fee in return for payment when they get a record deal or a publishing deal.

There are also those who are just starting out in production who are looking for bands or artists to work with. You may be able to spot a rising talent yourself and both benefit each other. The other option is to produce yourself and look for an engineer to do all the technical stuff.

Engineers work with producers in a studio. They set up the recording equipment and do a lot of the technical legwork in a studio. Many producers start out as engineers and then go on to the more creative production job, probably after having been given a break by a studio to produce a few up and coming artists. If you want to find a producer you can do it a number of ways:

• The Music Directory lists producers. Do some research on some names near you and then send them a demo of your songs and/or invite them to a gig.



• Contact producers of bands and songwriters you admire. Check out their names on the back of CDs. They may be very expensive and very busy but it's possible they will pass your demo to someone else.



• Ask around at local colleges or studios that run courses in production. Check if they have visiting producers who lecture there. As above send a demo and/or invite them to your next gig.



• Produce yourself and make the most of your engineer.

Back to top Send us your views or read other peoples' Send us your comments on: Finding a producer

Your Name and Town/City:


Your Message: